Long-term, persistent pain is nothing like the pain of an acute injury or even a really bad case of the flu. In those cases, you may feel bad – really bad – for days or weeks, but the pain gradually lessens, letting you know that you’re on the mend. Chronic pain, on the other hand, is unpredictable and unrelenting. It can occur every day, or it may appear on random days.

Some folks claim they can tell when it’s going to rain or there’s a cold front on the way because their arthritis is acting up. Images of an old timer on his porch, saying “there’s a storm coming, I can feel it in my knees,” might come to mind. But does weather have anything to do with your chronic pain?

Whoever coined the saying “Pain of mind is worse than pain of body” probably never experienced chronic pain. Chronic pain can be caused by a number of factors – genetics, anxiety, injury, or disease; and in some cases, doctors might have difficulty discovering just what it is that is leaving their patients in peril. According to a National Health Institute study, 11.2% of all Americans suffer from chronic pain.

Pain-relief injections are a highly effective, nonsurgical way to provide lasting relief for muscle, joint, and nerve pain. Depending on the location and source of your pain, different types of injections may be used to provide relief. Two of the most common and effective treatments are facet blocks and nerve blocks.

At Pain Specialists of Austin, we specialize in helping individuals whose chronic pain has not responded to treatments such as medication and physical therapy. Our patients are individuals who are experiencing chronic pain, and, have consulted with their physicians about seeking alternative, advanced treatment options to treat their long-lasting, debilitating pain caused by injury, illness, or disease.